PB funding available for island groups
Groups and organisations on Arran are being invited to bid for funding in this year’s Participatory Budgeting (PB) Fund which opened at the start of the month.
The fund from North Ayrshire Council and the Health and Social Care Partnership is aimed at projects which will help make a positive difference in the community.
This year there are three categories of PB funding that people can apply for: localities, youth, and arts and culture.
For the first time since the initiative began in 2016, voting will take place online this year owing to Covid-19.
The applications will be shortlisted by locality and youth steering groups, and then there will be a public vote in early 2021 where communities can decide the projects that they would like to see receive funds.
Councillor Louise McPhater, cabinet member for communities, said: ‘Participatory Budgeting is community empowerment and local democracy at its finest with lots of groups already celebrating and gaining some much-needed funds.
‘People know their communities better than anyone else. They have been at the heart of designing the PB process via the Locality Planning Partnerships.
‘We are continually finding ways of empowering our communities and giving citizens a say in the council’s decision-making process and PB is one of the most inspiring examples of this.
‘We welcome applications from anyone and will deal with each individually and on its own merits. Good luck.’
More details about the amounts available and what the criteria is for applying can be found at northayrshire.community/pb2020/39043/ or by emailing participatorybudgeting@north-ayrshire.gov.uk or by phoning 01294 475900.
Applications close at 5pm on Sunday January 31, 2021.